Texas Motor Speedway (TMS) unveiled the biggest sports video board in the world on Wednesday night when the 12-story Big Hoss TV made its debut.
“There’s nothing like attending a live sporting event,” TMS president Eddie Gossage said.
“With this, you don’t miss a thing. To me, it’s the ultimate fan amenity. To have the biggest one in the world, that’s just another one of those ‘everything’s bigger in Texas’ stories that we’re really proud to be a part of.”
The 20,633-square foot screen constructed by Panasonic is 79% larger than the monitor that hangs over the playing surface at AT&T Stadium. Jerry Jones’ two-sided screen cost $40 million. Eddie Gossage declined to give the total amount of the TMS board.
The Big Hoss TV is designed to hold its own against winds up to 130 miles per hour. The strength of the LED bulbs has been tested by having golf balls hit off the screen to simulate hail.
Texas Motor Speedway’s Big Hoss TV unveiling included a showing of the newest episode of Duck Dynasty
Helio Castroneves, a four-time Verizon IndyCar Series winner at TMS, said the screen’s size could be distracting for drivers during the race.
“The good news is that it’s so fast on the back straightaway that it would be hard for us to try to look,” said Helio Castroneves, who is scheduled to be part of the IndyCar field at TMS on June 7.
“Hopefully when we come back here in June, I can see myself in the victory circle on that big TV.”
The unveiling included a showing of the newest episode of A&E’s Duck Dynasty. Duck Commander, the company the show is centered around, is the sponsor of the NASCAR Sprint Cup race on April 6.
Duck Dynasty’s Willie and Korie Robertson were on hand and were presented with custom-painted racing helmets.
“I think a lot of these guys and gals watch the show, so it’s a good combination for us,” Willie Robertson said.
“We were thrilled to put our name on it. If you told me we were going to do this a couple years ago, I would’ve never believed it.”
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Duck Commander, the franchise operation of Duck Dynasty reality show, has reached an agreement with Texas Motor Speedway to sponsor its next three Sprint Cup races.
The company has signed a multiyear agreement to serve as title sponsor of the annual spring NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway.
The largest-attended, single-day sporting event held annually in Texas with estimated average crowds in excess of 150,000 will be known as the Duck Commander 500 with this year’s edition scheduled for Sunday, April 6. The two sides agreed to a three-year deal with a renewal option for an additional three years, but no financial terms of the agreement were announced.
“This is perhaps the most unique sponsorship in professional sports because not only does this come with special branding, it comes with celebrity spokespeople that are followed by tens of millions of people every week,” Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage said in a track release.
Duck Commander has signed a multiyear agreement to serve as title sponsor of the annual spring NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway
“Fans will see members of the Robertson Family and cast of <<Duck Dynasty>> and all the rest during Duck Commander 500 week here at Texas Motor Speedway and we have produced some awesome merchandise that both race fans and Duck Commander fans will love. This marriage is perfection.”
The Duck Commander brand also will enjoy a substantial product presence on its race weekend and throughout the year at Texas Motor Speedway. An extensive line of Duck Commander 500 merchandise will be sold at track and in the Speedway World souvenir store year-round in addition to being available through Duck Commander retail partners.
Uncle Si’s Tea™ will be introduced and sold at track in single-serve options in both the sweet and unsweetened varieties. Texas Motor Speedway also will look to integrate products such as Duck Commander Family Foods’ BBQ sauce, salsa and beef jerky with the speedway signature concession items.
The Robertson family members also will have a strong presence on their race weekend, with several attending as well as having various VIP or honorary roles such as Grand Marshal or Honorary Starter.
Tickets for the Duck Commander 500 officially go on sale Friday, February 14.
Fans interested in purchasing tickets prior to that date can do so by securing season tickets or by joining the Texas Motor Speedway Fan Club. Fan Club members will be eligible for a special Duck Commander 500 pre-sale event that begins 10 a.m. E.T. Friday.
